I'm driving in the car around 6p Chicago time, so I decide to tune in to the progressive radio station to see what's up. I've been doing that more lately since the station moved from 850 to 820 am and I don't have to make out the words between static anymore. It comes in pretty clear most days.
There's this guy talking about socialism, how democrats really are for socialism but they won't come out and say it. Then he talks about communism, as if they are interchangeable, and how Hugo Chavez is doing no favors for the poor because he is creating inefficiency that comes from communism. And on and on. I'm thinking, 'has this radio station already 'flipped' to right wing?' Which seriously pissed me off, because for years Chicago has only had right wing crapola coming from the talk powerhouse WLS (World's Lousiest Station, is the local moniker). 50,000 watts and comes in practically everywhere. And now, if our little crumb of a station got yanked...
Well, fortunately, it didn't. Turns out, it only broadcasts during the day by a nice little antiquated law.
The rules regarding radio stations go back to 1934 when there were far fewer radio stations in the country than there are today. "Daytimers" share signals with the very first, 50,000 watt, clear channel stations (not to be confused with the company, Clear Channel) that went on air in the 1920s. WCPT, for instance, is on the same frequency as WBAP in Dallas Texas. We both broadcast at 820-AM. For a long time, the FCC “protected” stations like WBAP, prohibiting anyone from broadcasting on the same signal during any time of the day - no matter how geographically distant they were.
Even though there are almost 10,000 radio stations in the United States today, the FCC still adheres to the 1934 guidelines when there were less than 750. All of the clear channel stations are owned by big corporations... enough said.
http://www.wcpt820.com/about/So apparently, I was listening to some arrogant mohran from Texas. Dubya country.